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Support Your Local Businesses on “Small Business Saturday”

You’ve heard of Black
Friday.And Cyber Monday.But did you know that this Saturday is Small Business
Saturday?We’re encouraging everyone to visit a small
business to do some holiday shopping this Saturday.

As President Obama said in a message
out to all Small Business Saturday supporters:

"From the mom-and-pop storefront
shops that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep America on
the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the
cornerstones of our Nation’s promise. These businesses create two out of
every three new jobs in America, helping spur economic development in
communities across our country and giving millions of families and individuals
the opportunity to achieve the American dream. Through events such as
Small Business Saturday, we keep our local economies strong and help maintain an
American economy that can compete and win in the 21st century."

When you walk down Main Street in
any city in America, you can often find great restaurants, service providers,
and handcrafted, Made-in-America products from local shops.It’s wonderful
to simply go in and visit with local business owners and hear what’s happening
in the community.

There are many people in my life
that appreciate a unique gift from a local business, like the blueberry jam I
pick up at the Farmers’ Market in my hometown of Brunswick, Maine. This
Saturday, I’m planning to go back to that market early in the morning, and then
I will travel to Roslindale, Massachusetts, to celebrate Small Business
Saturday with Boston Mayor Tom Menino.Many other top-level officials
throughout the Administration are also "shopping small” this Saturday.

Everyone knows that your dollar goes
a long way at when you buy a product or service from a small
business.That money goes right back into the local economy.And
that’s important, because half of working Americans either own or work for a
small business, and small businesses create two out of every three new jobs.

It’s great to find the perfect gift
from a small business.Often, when you carry it to the counter, you can
see the business owner’s eyes light up.They tell a story about how that
gift was made.Or where it came from. Or how it’s a
one-of-a-kind. And the gift immediately becomes even more meaningful and
special.Moments like that are what makes the holidays magical.

In addition to our support for Small Business
Saturday, the SBA is working hard to make sure even more small
businesses can keep growing.For example, we had an all-time record for
SBA loans this year, with over $30 billion in lending support that helped about
60,000 small businesses buy a new building, get more equipment, or hire more
workers. And, right now, the President is calling on Congress to cut in half
the payroll taxes for small businesses as part of the American Jobs Act.

Let’s all do our part to support
America’s small businesses as they continue to strengthen our economy and
create jobs.Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Small Business Saturday, and Happy
Holidays.